The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-05-06
FOREIGN.
Further Consideration of the Times
Dillon Matter.
Mr.. Gladstone Speaks and Quotes
Several Precedents.

LONDON, May 5.-In the Commons this
afternoon the consideration of the question
OF the breach of privilege in the Times
Dillon case was resumed. No member rising
to speak on the motion Of Mr.. Lewis, that
the conduct of the Times was breach of
privilege and the House take notice of it,
Speaker Peel put before the House the
amendment of Sir Edward Clarke, Solicitor
General, that the House decline to treat the
lines publication as a breach of privilege.
The Parnellites at once challenged diyi-
sion. This resulted in vote of 297 in favor
Oh the amendment to 219 against it. The
amendment thus became a substantive mo-
tlon, and Mr.. Bradlaugh resumed the debate.
MT. Gladstone, who ON rising was loudly
cneered, moved an amendment that COM
m.ttee be appointed to inquire into the
charge of swilful falsehood made against
Mr.. Dillon n the Times on Monday; He
said he did not intend Co that the in
quiry go beyond the article refeffedu 70 He
objected to Lord Randolph Churchill'S caff4'
ing him the leader of the party of separa-
ton. He perfectly understood why Churchill
did not call it the party of Home Rule.
:Ile Ihere was future before Lord Randolph in
winch nome rule plans might figure as Con-
xenient to propose. (Cheers) Turning to
the question of privilege, he said it was un-
fortunate that the government proposed the
present step against the Irish members
while infiicting upon the Irish people, by
means of permanent coercion bill, the
brand of perpetual dishonor Why take the
case into court OF law? Was il certain
that Dillon would get verdict whatever
might be the proof in the case, where Par
Lament declared the charges against the
member no breach Of privilege. Nearly
thirty years ago he went as a COM
missioner to the Ionian Islands. The
Times then said the Ionian Assembly
was committing treason, and the commits
sioner was aiding and abetting the Assembly.
he thought these charges required redress
and took the best advice on the subject, but
all advisers said he could not depend upon
securing fair verdict. The Irish members
would be in still more unfavorable posi-
tlon In the jury trial, and 1t was no wonder
they preferred the tribunal of the House.
The House was perfectly competent tribu
nal, indeed the only competent one. The
PrecedentS were all on the side of the ap-
peintment Of committee. There was the
case Of Mr.. Butt in 1854, when it was held
that the accusation that members were hun
cry for places to which were attached sal
aries and pensions deserved inquiry. After
citing number of other precedents in all of
which the charges were less grave than
those brought against Dillon, he challenged
the government to establish single prece-
dent where prosecution has been ordered
without the House having previously con-
demned the act upon which the prosecution
was based. lie applied to the government
to alter their determination which
otherwise might lead to crisis of
the most serious and momentous Importance.
The Irish members, who had been ma
ligned to an enormous extent, asked for a
particular course, which the majority re-
fused, forgetting that they were acting
against minority representing the nation.
(Parnellite cheers.) The government could
yet, on the grounds of reason, prudence and
precedent, accept his amendment, showing
the country that they had determined at last
to give even the Irish members full justice,
even indulgent justice, seeing that their
honor and character were at stake. (Cheers)
Sir Richard Webstear, Attorney General,
admitted that Mr.. Gladstone had put the
issue in the clearest possible way, but the
opinion of the law officers Of the crown was
mistaken. He appealed to the House to
affirm that the course proposed by the gov
erument was most honorable and adequate
one, and that court of law was the proper
place in which to deal with the charges.
LONDON. May 5.-The steamer Aisle, from
Balgelona for Marseilles. sunk in collision
with the French transatlantic steamer
AJaccio Cette for Algiers. Several passen-
gers were drowned.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and
daughters, Marquis of Lorne and Princess
Louise, and the Countess of Paris and
brilliant suite visited the Wild West show
and the grounds of the American exhibition
today and were surprised and delighted